EDITORIALS

At a glance

Resume Writing

At a glance Cover Image

There is a rumor out in the world that the attention span of your “average American” is getting shorter. Sad to say, but most likely very true. We see it all around us. So many things are screaming for our attention on a given day. Before the advent of computers it was quite a bit harder t...


Jan 31, 2018

By Matt Bud, The FENG

A gap or a cover-up?

Resume Writing

A gap or a cover-up? Cover Image

Time goes by fast when you’re having fun, doesn’t it? And what greater fun is there than conducting a job search? Okay, it may not be as much fun as it appears to be to those looking in from the outside. But still, you can’t beat those lunches and phone calls with old friends, not to menti...


Jan 30, 2018

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Selling life jackets to those drowning

Job Leads & Job Boards

Selling life jackets to those drowning Cover Image

Since a significant percentage of our members are in the job market, I thought I would make you aware that almost all of the job search related websites are in the business of selling life jackets to people who are drowning. And, the life jackets they sell don’t actually work. An alternate...


Jan 29, 2018

By Matt Bud, The FENG

I’m a complicated guy

90-Second Announcements

I’m a complicated guy Cover Image

I always try to tell people who ask that I am just a simple financial guy. But I guess the truth is that all of us financial types are complicated in one way or another. Unlike lawyers and doctors who (thanks to Hollywood) everyone THINKS they know what they do every day, our profession (o...


Jan 25, 2018

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Making networking benefit YOU

Networking

Making networking benefit YOU Cover Image

I am always trying to explain networking to users. Tonight I am going to try to explain networking to givers. The common misperception is that networking is a give and take. You give to others and they take. Nothing could be further from the truth. Networking as I suggest it be practiced i...


Jan 23, 2018

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Sharing with the family

Human Interactions

Sharing with the family Cover Image

Job search can be a lonely business. There you are, in your home office from the moment you get up in the morning until just before you go to bed. Emails are going out. Letters are being sent. Appointments are being made. (And, the only time you leave the house is for this purpose.) The pr...


Jan 22, 2018

By Matt Bud, The FENG

E I E I O Cover Image

I suppose I could be wrong about all of this, but I find the use of “, MBA” as part of your name to be a bad idea. Yes, I know that not everyone has an MBA, but in my opinion unless you are a CPA or a Ph.D., you need to exercise a little caution in the initials you place after your name. M...


Jan 21, 2018

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Save the Nauga

Correspondence

Save the Nauga Cover Image

I assume that most of you are unaware that in addition to being Chairman of The FENG, I am also president of the Save The Nauga Society. I have been actively involved in trying to save the nauga from extinction for many years. While naugas existed in most parts of the world in large number...


Jan 17, 2018

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Getting back at it

Networking

Getting back at it Cover Image

Okay sports fans, the new year has begun. It is now January 14th and time is slipping away. At the moment this year promises to be a good one for employment. (Then again, the light at the end of the tunnel I am seeing could be a speeding locomotive.) Although you have to “do it all,” I wou...


Jan 14, 2018

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Geese and golden eggs

Networking Recruiters

Geese and golden eggs Cover Image

One of our very most important audiences are members of the search community who are registered as Friends of The FENG. When you communicate with these folks, briefly, you are expected to behave yourself. Members of The FENG are expected to only respond when reasonably qualified. What does...


Jan 11, 2018

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Let’s keep it a secret

Resume Writing

Let’s keep it a secret Cover Image

Any more than someone would write “Please Broadcast Widely” at the top of their resume, putting “Confidential” is just as silly in many ways. I’m sure that this is written up somewhere as the appropriate thing to do, so I am not faulting anyone who does it, but it really is unnecessary. It...


Jan 09, 2018

By Matt Bud, The FENG

There’s honestly no excuse

Correspondence

There’s honestly no excuse Cover Image

There was a time, I suppose, when it was really hard to get back to people. Let’s say someone sent you a smoke signal. I guess you would first have to build a fire, and a smoky one at that. If they sent you a message towards the end of the day, would you really have enough time to respond?...


Jan 03, 2018

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Why bother saying thank you?

Correspondence Human Interactions

Why bother saying thank you? Cover Image

For those of you who are sailing fans and/or history buffs and saw the movie Master and Commander: The Far Side of The World, there was a scene where Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany were having a heated argument about the merits of flogging. The comment made by the captain was that the good...


Dec 19, 2017

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Building friendships-a lot of hard work

Human Interactions Networking New Friends

Building friendships-a lot of hard work Cover Image

The definition of networking I use is: Networking is a process by which you can create meaningful business contacts and relationships to further your career and enhance your professional life. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the most difficult, networking is a 5. Building friendships is ...


Dec 10, 2017

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Please, give me a hint

Correspondence Resume Writing

Please, give me a hint Cover Image

Every once in a while I get an assignment for The FECG that draws more than its fair share of attention. I think our all time high a few years ago was an assignment that drew 225 responses. However, even when you get an assignment that draws more than say 40 responses, it can get a little ...


Nov 14, 2017

By Matt Bud, The FENG

The competition is fierce Cover Image

No one ever said it would be easy. And, when it comes to finding a job after the age of 40, it can easily become a demoralizing situation. For those of us who are even older, like in our 50’s or 60’s, it can be extremely difficult. Let me start you out with the idea that you are no longer ...


Nov 07, 2017

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Meetings all over the place

New Friends

Meetings all over the place Cover Image

As I was scrolling through the newsletter the past few weeks, I couldn’t help but be struck by all of the chapter and special interest group meeting announcements. I just wonder if ALL of you out there in the land of The FENG are taking advantage of these great opportunities to meet really...


Oct 31, 2017

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Over responding to job leads Cover Image

One of the foundations upon which The FENG has been built has been relying upon our members to exercise good judgment about the jobs for which they are a fit and only responding when they are. I could no more police this activity when we were smaller than I can now that we are huge. In the...


Sep 24, 2017

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Working the room Cover Image

Bashfulness has never been my strong suit. Nevertheless, when confronted with a room of strangers, it is never easy to figure out a logical way of connecting with appropriate folks. However, having the courage to do so is actually easier. Let’s start with preparation. You need to have busi...


Sep 14, 2017

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Yeah, what do you want? Cover Image

Sometimes the phone here are world headquarters gets a little quiet. Several minutes can go by and no one calls. It is enough to get you a little out of practice in answering the phone. So, from time to time I just pick up the phone (even though it isn’t ringing) and say hello to see if my...


Sep 13, 2017

By Matt Bud, The FENG

Making a pest of yourself

Job Leads & Job Boards Recruiters

Making a pest of yourself Cover Image

As I am sure all of you know, one of your responsibilities as a member is, to the best of your ability, to only respond to job postings when you are reasonably qualified. The greatest majority of job postings in our newsletter come your way through the good offices of your fellow members. ...


Sep 10, 2017

By Matt Bud, The FENG